"The fact that the United States does more good for more people than any other state or perhaps combination of states is seemingly unnoticed."

It isn't unnoticed as much as it is mitigated by the harm we do through a failed foreign policy. I find it difficult when comments are made dismissing the value of human life just because it is happening in Iraq! Americans choose to ignore the reality of the loss of Iraqi civilians in a battle WE started. I understand the gravity of war and death is synonomous with war which is why I feel obligated to look for the real reasons for invading Iraq.

I agree with most of your post except, I have an underlying difference of opinion when it comes to the undercurrent of support for the current administration.

"Can you imagine the effect on the ...war... if the American public spoke with one mouth and acted with one cause apparent, and acted like a team? I believe the effect would be shattering for the 'terrorists, insurgents, murderous criminals or religious fanatics.'"

I like the statement above with a slight modification rather then American replace it with Global. What I mean to say is after 9/11 we had an opportunity to lead the world on how to fight terror. We chose to lead by might fueled by the desire for revenge rather then intelligence. We did not unite the world with our foreign policy yet we had such an ample opportunity to asses the problem of terrorism and and address it from there globally.

What do we do instead? We change the focus on terrorism to a country that just so happens to be the lynch pin to the neocon's idea for the new middle east?!??!??!

I struggle to understand how anybody who refuses to identify themselves as a neocon can support this administration!